Vice chairman of sports organisation admits disclosing ICAC probe
2021-7-15
A vice chairman of a sports organisation, charged by the ICAC, today (July 15) admitted at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts that he had violated the anti-bribery law by disclosing the identities of the subjects being investigated by the Commission and details of such investigation.
Leung Kang-ying, 67, a vice chairman of the executive committee of the Hong Kong Basketball Association (HKBA), pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing the identities of subjects and details of an ICAC investigation, contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to August 5 for sentence, pending the defendant’s background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail.
The court heard that on May 15, 2020, an ICAC Investigator telephoned the defendant to invite him to attend an interview to provide information for an investigation arising from a corruption complaint. Three days later, the defendant attended the interview.
On both occasions, the ICAC investigator reminded the defendant of the provision of Section 30 of the POBO which prohibited him from disclosing the identities of the subjects and details of the ICAC investigation to any other persons. The defendant replied on both occasions that he understood.
On June 29, 2020, the defendant told two senior sports executives of the executive committee of the HKBA that he had been interviewed by the ICAC regarding the corruption complaint concerned. The defendant also told the duo that he wanted to brief them in advance since he thought the ICAC would contact them later.
The defendant understood that it was his duty to keep the investigation confidential, but he had still disclosed the identities of subjects and details of the ICAC investigation to the aforesaid duo, the court heard.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Raymond Lai.
Leung Kang-ying, 67, a vice chairman of the executive committee of the Hong Kong Basketball Association (HKBA), pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing the identities of subjects and details of an ICAC investigation, contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to August 5 for sentence, pending the defendant’s background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail.
The court heard that on May 15, 2020, an ICAC Investigator telephoned the defendant to invite him to attend an interview to provide information for an investigation arising from a corruption complaint. Three days later, the defendant attended the interview.
On both occasions, the ICAC investigator reminded the defendant of the provision of Section 30 of the POBO which prohibited him from disclosing the identities of the subjects and details of the ICAC investigation to any other persons. The defendant replied on both occasions that he understood.
On June 29, 2020, the defendant told two senior sports executives of the executive committee of the HKBA that he had been interviewed by the ICAC regarding the corruption complaint concerned. The defendant also told the duo that he wanted to brief them in advance since he thought the ICAC would contact them later.
The defendant understood that it was his duty to keep the investigation confidential, but he had still disclosed the identities of subjects and details of the ICAC investigation to the aforesaid duo, the court heard.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Raymond Lai.